Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. SEYFRIBD. GAR COUPLING.

Patented Aug. 28, 1894.

IN VENTOR;

W/TNESSES. 6,52%

4 TTOHNE Y8 No Model.) I T SBYPRIED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

GAR COUPLING.

' Patented Aug. 28,1894.

WITNESSES. IN VEI/TOR.

Tn: NORRIS FEYERS co, worou'mc" ,wnsnmumu, u. c.

NITED PATENT rrrc.

THOMAS SEYFRIED, OF UPPER NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,234., dated August28,1 894. Application filed February 10, 1894. Serial No. 499.746. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SEYFRIED, of Upper Nazareth township, in thecounty of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania,have nvented a new anduseful Improved Oar- Coupling, of which the .following is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved car coupling of the link and hooktype, and has for Us object to provide a novel, simple car coupling ofthe type indinated, which will be adapted for the automatic couplingtogether of two cars having the improvement, and that wlll affordconvenient and safe means for the detachment of two of the improvedcouplings at the side of the cars whereon said couplings are placed.

To these ends, my invention consists in the peculiar construction andcombination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference .is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both of the views shown. 1

Figure 1 is a plan View of two of the improved couplings on adjacent endportions of two car frames; and Fig. 2 is a side view of parts shown inFig. 1.

In the drawings, 10 represents the front end portlon of a car frame, and11, two buffer blocks on said frame, which blocks are secured 1n placeon the transverse end beam 10 of the car frame at an equal distance froma longitudinal center line, leaving a sufficient space between them forthe introduction and support of the improved coupling at the center ofwidth of the car frame.

I The drawhead 12, comprises a metal bar, whereon the heavy hook 12 isformed at the front end.

The hook 12 is rearwardly and upwardly pro ected above a reduced portionof the drawhead body, whereby a receiving notch is afforded immediatelyrearward of the hook,

for the reception of a coupling link.

At a suitable distance from the hook 12*, where the body of the drawheadis of greatest thickness, a shoulder 12, is produced by reducing thediameter of the drawhead, the rearward elongation of the reduced body ofthe part 12, affording a bolt extension 12 that is loosely inserted in atransversely central perforation formed to receive it in theend beam ofthe car frame.

The part 12, has a washer plate strung upon it that bears upon the rearside of the frame timber 10. The bolt-extension 12, shown broken away inthe drawings, in completed form has the bufier spring 13, also shownbroken, loosely secured upon it, so that draft force applied to the hook12, will be cushioned by the spring, and sudden shocks sustained by thedrawhead in service, willbe absorbed by the spring as usual.

There is an elongated coupling link 14, provided, which is looselysecured by one end in a transverse'hole formed to receive it in thethick central portion 12 of the drawhead 12 that is near to the shoulder12*, so that the main portion of the link will be adapted to rock onthe-drawhead and project its parallel side members forwardly of the hookend 12 a sufficient degree to permit the front end portion of the linkto have a coupled engagement with a drawhead hook 12, on another I .carcoupling of a similar construction.

On the front of the car frame 10, a rock shaft 15, is secured by anypreferred means which will permit it to receive a rocking movement, saidshaft having a crank handle 15*, formed on its-outer end, which handleis near the side of the car frame, and therefore in position forconvenient and safe manipulation by a person at the side of the car.

The rock shaft 15, has two spaced and parallel limbs 15, projected inthe same plane with each other, and having an equal length, which isproperly proportioned to the length given the link 14:, that said limbsloosely embrace. On the outer ends of the limbs 15*, a toe 15, isinwardly turned, and is of a sufficient length to project below andserve as a support for the link 14. On the rock shaft 15, at a pointnear the crank handle 15, there is a ratchet toothed wheel 15 formed orsecured, which wheel is engaged by the hooklike detent dog 15 that isheld to vibrate from the upright end of the car, by its pivotalengagement with a bracket box secured on said car, or by any othersuitable means.

The construction of parts as shown, indicates two teeth on the whcel15but this number may be increased as may be required.

It will be seen that by a proper disposition of parts the link 14:, maybe maintained in a horizontal plane, or if the teeth on the wheel 15,are of sufficient number, the link may be elevated or lowered and bethus projected forwardly at a correct angle from a horizontal positionto have a coupled engagement with another coupling of the sameconstruction, which may be higher or lower than the coupling from whichthe link is projected.

In operation, two cars on the same track and having the improvement oneach, may be automatically coupled by first adjusting one coupling linkin a nearly upright position and securing it so adjusted, by the wheel15 and detent dog 15", and the other link projected in a nearlyhorizontal plane.

The cars if moved toward each other with their couplings adjusted as hasbeen explained, will cause the projected end of the nearly horizontalcoupling link to impinge upon the inclined edge of the hook 12, andslide upon it until the link drops off of the high end of the hook limb,into the recess or notch formed for its reception as before explained,which will effect the coupled engagement of the drawheads 12 of bothcouplings.

The loose embrace of the coupling link 14. by the parallel limbs on therock shaft 15, prevents an improper lateral displacement of the link,while a limited lateral sliding movement of the shaft will permit asufiicient side play of the link to prevent cramping of the same whencars are running on curves of a 5 railroad.

the manipulation of the crank handle on the rock shaft that controls thecoupled link, so as to elevate the outer end'of said link, will safelyand instantly release the coupled drawheads.

It should be understood, that one coupling link of two couplings thatare to be connected, is always held in an elevated position unless themating coupling has its link injured so as to render it unsafe, areserve link being thus provided in case of accident.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In a car coupling,the combination with a car,and a drawhead thereon having an upward andrearward hook formation at its front end, a reduced bolt formationrearward of the hook, and a bufier spring thereon, of an elongated linkpivoted transversely by its rear end in the body of the drawhead behindits hook, a transverse rock shaft on the car above the projected end ofthe drawhead,a crank handle on the outer end of the rock shaft, twospaced limbs on the inner part of the shaft, having inwardly projectingtoes that support the link, yet allow the same to swing upwardindependently of the rock shaft and a ratchet wheel and pawl adapted tolock the shaft and hold the link upright or outwardly projected,substantially as described.

THOMAS SEYFRIED.

Witnesses:

CHAUNCEY G. I-IELLIoK, THOMAS FEINCLE.

